This book seems to be about French Colonial soldiers recovering from wounds in hospitals in the south of France. I haven't read it thoroughly but it may be solely based on Tahitian soldiers who served and were wounded on the Western Front. If that's the case, this is an unusual book of its time. Colonial soldiers, particularly non-white soldiers, are barely mentioned in contemporary accounts of the war. Very interesting. Unusual writing style. Terrible title. It completely obscures the subject.